Occupational Deferment of Chemists and Chemical Engineers Amended Data and Recommendations JUST a q we go to press there comes to our attention the announcement in Chemical and Engineering News (July 25, 1943) under the above title. This is a matter of important concern to all in the chemical profession, as well as to students in trainkg for it. The important, but informal, part which the American Chemical Society has played in selective service deferments will henceforth be taken over by the National Roster, which has been given a larger measure of power in this matter. Those who are interested in the complete details, especially as they affect employed chemists, are referred to the original, but we are taking the opportunity to reprint below those parts of the announcement which particularly apply to students and teachers of chemistry. The Selective Service System (Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, Director) and the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel (Dr. Leonard Carmichael, Director) are companion units in the War Manpower Commission. The two are effectively cooperating. I t is the duty of the National Roster to collect and make available accurate information on individuals in theunited States who fall in thecriticalcategories of "scientific and specialized personnel." I t has collected this information with care, and no group has been covered more completely than "chemists and chemical engineers." The data have been gathered for Government purposes by this Federal agency, coexistent and cwperating with Selective Service. One of its purposes is t o furnish Local Boards with detailed information regarding professional qualified individuals so that intelligent action may he taken by the Local Boards in placing them where they can serve America best. The basic reason for the establishment of "Selective Service" was the proper and efficient use of America's manpower. To accomplish intelligently the ohjecrives mentioned above, Selective Service has issued 35 Activity and Occupation Bulletins. Of these Number 35 is especially significant and contains the following paragraphs:
B . National Roster qf Scientific and Specielized Pnsonnel: I . Informetion submitled by National Roster.-Reference is made t o the form letter of this Headquarters concerning persons registered with the National Roster of Scientific and Soecialized Personnel. which contains the followine oaramaoh: given us concerning the above registrant is considered reliable. I t isdirected that this communication be placed in the cover sheet of the above registrant by his Local Board. This information shall be considered, together with any other evidence a t the disposal of the Local Board, as bearing on the registrant's classification under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. In order authoritatively to implement these objectives and t o conserve the inadequate supply of chemists and chemical engineers, the National Roster has appointed an advisory committee consisting of Frank C. Whitmore (Chairman), Lawrence W. Bass, Warren L. McCabe, E. W. Reid, and F. W. Willard. Official confirmation of this committee has not yet been given, hut it is expected momentarily. The Roster has engaged Dr. W. T. Read, Dean of the School of Chemistry a t Rutgers University, t o serve on a full-time hasis as Executive Officer of this committee and as principal group specialist on the staK of the Roster's professional allocation section.
Because the National Roster procedure has been set up after careful consideration aided by competent advice, and since many agencies with similar responsibilities would cause confusion, the American Chemical Society hereafter will refer t o the National Roster all questions of deferment concerning chemists and chemical engineers for such action as is shown by the evidence to be in the interests of the war effort. Accordingly, future communications regarding such deferment should be addressed to the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel, Attention of Committee on Chemists and Chemical Engineers, 10th and U Streets, N. W., Washington 25, D. C. For the additional information of industry and our members, attention is directed t o Local Board Memorandum 115 printed on page 679 of the May 10, 1943, issue of Chemical and Engineering News. This memorandum gives the list of the Activity and Occupation Bulletins corresponding to the 35 officially certified "essential activities." These Activity and Occupation Bulletins displace all previous occupational bulletins, and have themselves been amended in certain instances since their issuance on April 1, 1943. Therefore i t is desirable for an industry faced with the need for occupational deferments to obtain from National Headquarters, Selective Service System, 21st and C Streets, N. W., Washington, D. C., the bulletin or bulletins applying specificallyto that industry. For instance, AOB No. 17 (Production of Chemicals and Allied Products) was amended May 6,1943. by Transmittal Memo No. 25 to add under Part IIEssential Activities, page 3: "Paints and protective coatings for military, naval, and marine material.. shins. . . and eouioment. for aericultural and industrial material and equipment, for container linings and electrical insulation; protective coatings for textiles."
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The attention of colleges again is called to Activity and Occupatian Bulletin No. 33-5, "Educational Serviceelnstruction and Administration of General and Vocational Institutions," and Activity and Occupation Bulletin No. 33-6, "Educational Services-Student Deferment." When issued, the latter bulletin recommended the deferment of students of chemistry, chemical engineering, and others in special lines who would be graduated on or before July 1,1945. It now has heen amended toread "within twenty-four months." These bulletins remain the considered policy of Selective Service, but the reasons therefor are not always apparent t o the Local Boards, Occupational Advisers, and State Directors. That is why the National Roster should be requested to give necessary information and advice. Those Local Boards which understand the seriousness of the shortaee of chemists and rhcrnical cnginerrs and itr eKcct upon the war rflurt, rolunrar~ly wll requesl swll advice from the ?\'ntional Ko>rrr; olhrri should be I C ( I ~ W J I P ~10 d o sd All t c ~ h ~ rstudcntr. s. graduate nssicrnnt,, and industrial chemists and chemical engineers who have not registered with the National Roster should obtain from the American Chemical Society immediately the necessary forms, since it is encumbent upon the Roster t o review these questionnaires along with other evidence before advising Local Boards in any individual case. This is important. The American Chemical Society with the efficient aid of Erle M. Billings still is cooperating actively with the Roster in this effort. ~
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PROCEDURE
When it is essential t o the efficient continuation of the production effort to obtain, or have continued, the occupational deferment of a chemist or chemical engineer, the employer should send a notarized copy of the registrant's Form 42-A to the National Roster, 10th and U Streets, N. W., Washington 25, D. C., and request that reliahle information he sent to the registrant's Local Board. As already indicated, the chemist or chemical engineer must have on file with the National Roster a record of his trainine
and experience; questionnaires have already been widely cirntlated by the American Chemical Srxiety. I n those relatively few cases in which a chemist or chemical engineer, graduate or student, may not be actually employed a t such time as he receives notice from his Local Board that he is being considered for reclassification. the individual concerned mav take the initiative and write the Sntional Roster ahout his particular ra5r. In such rairs the Hwttr wdl evaluate the individual's prole-aional qualifications a r well as the need for his services in lhe war effort and will take necessary steps to get this information before the proper local board. It is advisable t o anticipate reclassification a t least two or three weeks before the expiration of a deferment period. An up-to-date Form 42-A should he sent t o the Local Board and t o the National Roster. both co@s %notarized. If a registrant mistakenly is ordered for induction, the National Roster should be informed and requested t o aid in keeping him in his proper niche in the war effort. The Local Board can, and usually will, reopen and reconsider the case of any registrant if it can be shown that an error of judgment was made, or new evidence is submitted t o show that theregistrant can be more useful t o the country in the production rather than in the combat army. Both are equally essential to winning the war. A few Local Boards have ordered up men for induction almost immediately after reclassification. Even if such an order is given, the employer and the employee have the right of appeal within ten days following reclassification. Appeal may, and if necessary should, he carried up t o the State Director and even t o the President if the State Director fails t o recommend the deferment of a "necessary" man in a "critical occupation." Form 42-A should be filled out with care. The information should be stated hrirfly hut 4tould show plsinly why the psrticular individual is a " n r c r s ~ r y "man, am1 why his work is eaiential to the "national health, safety, or interest." Replacements for chemists and chemical engineers are almost unobtainable. Earnest attempts t o find sucb replacements should be made by contacting the United States Employment Service or by writing to the National Roster itself. It is useless to write the American Chemical Society. We have been unable for several months t o find any replacements. For all practicable purposes, they do not exist. ~
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CXANGE O P VENUE
When appeal is first taken, a request may be made for transfer from the Appeal Board where the individual is registered to the
Appeal Board where he is working (Selective Service Regulations, If the Appeal Board t o which the appeal is transferred reverses the Local Board, the latter will defer the registrant for whom deferment is requested. This request can be made by the registrant or by his employer, but it applies only t o the first appeal. Therefore, the employer and employee should be careful not to cross wires. This request for transfer may often he decisive in the decision made with respect t o the registrant's classification since the Appeal Board where he first registered is likely, in most instances. not t o have a proper appreciation of the character ofwork which the registrant is performing, sometimes thousands of miles away. Sec. 627.11 and Sec. 267.71).
TRANSPER OF INDUCTION
Selective Service Regulations, Part 633-"Delivery and Induction"-gives full details in regard t o induction procedure. Under this heading will be found Sec. 633.11 entitled "Transferring Men for Delivery." This section states in brief that if a man has been ordered to report for induction and is so far from his own Local Board that reporting there for delivery would be a hardship he may be transferred for delivery t o a Local Board which has jurisdiction over the area in which he is a t the time located. A man desiring so t o be transferred must apply t o the nearest Local Board, present his order to report for induction and request in writing that his induction he transferred t o the place where he is a t the time located. This request is made on Form 154. The Local Board where he is located is supposed to investigate the circumstances of the registrant's absence from his own Local Board area, and if the request is found t o he reasanable to endorse its approval upon all copies and mail the original via air mail to the man's own Local Board. The latter, upon receipt of sucb request for Transfer of Delivery (Form 154) has no discretion but must immediately transfer him and send all pertinent papers t o the Local Board where he is t o be inducted. The registrant may consult the regulations a t the Local Board when he makes the request. The request must be made hy the registrant himself. This procedure is often extremely helpful where the registrant is working a t a distance from his Local Board. I n cases where time for further consideration is a factor, i t bas the additional advantage of delaying induction automatically while the transfer is being made. This gives opportunity for reopening the case. especially where new and important information is available. CHARLES L. PARSONS Secretary and Business Masager
